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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
Beautifully written. Likeable characters that connect with you and will have you laugh, cheer, and cry with them.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4 STARS
When his life crumbled around him, Sooley was able to find purpose in the United States. His story is equally uplifting and devastating.
When his life crumbled around him, Sooley was able to find purpose in the United States. His story is equally uplifting and devastating.
Sooley is a fun story to read as a college basketball fan and as someone who enjoyed playing the sport. I didn’t enjoy the book ending. Grisham always writes well and typically uses his platform to educate on some injustice even in a story about a mythical Sudanese basketball player. Part of this felt like the basketball version of Sid Finch. A just barely 4 star book for this reader.
Well written, but very depressing. I’ll be honest I love Grisham, but the book had a depressing ending, so it gets 3 stars for the gut punch.
The story of a boy from South Sudan getting a chance to play college ball in the U.S. is an uplifting story, but it also brings home the utter devastation occurring to the homes and more importantly lives of the South Sudanese people.
As usual the storytelling is excellent and gripping, and it seems like a Cinderella story until it isn’t. If you are having a rough time, I wouldn’t recommend reading this book now. I wasn’t expecting the ending that Grisham delivered, and it ruined the book for me.
Also, I couldn't help but see some similarities to the Len Bias story.
The story of a boy from South Sudan getting a chance to play college ball in the U.S. is an uplifting story, but it also brings home the utter devastation occurring to the homes and more importantly lives of the South Sudanese people.
As usual the storytelling is excellent and gripping, and it seems like a Cinderella story until it isn’t. If you are having a rough time, I wouldn’t recommend reading this book now. I wasn’t expecting the ending that Grisham delivered, and it ruined the book for me.
Also, I couldn't help but see some similarities to the Len Bias story.
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I’ve never read any of Grisham’s previous works, but after this one, I just might.
While I did find his writing a bit too detailed at times, and focused on the less important things, it’s really easy to get through and delivers what you expect.
Going into this book, I wish I would’ve known how basketball-heavy it is. The games are often described in too much detail, for me, and you’d have to live and breathe basketball to actually like those scenes.
Overall, though, this was a really good read. Very very very sad, but good nonetheless.
While I did find his writing a bit too detailed at times, and focused on the less important things, it’s really easy to get through and delivers what you expect.
Going into this book, I wish I would’ve known how basketball-heavy it is. The games are often described in too much detail, for me, and you’d have to live and breathe basketball to actually like those scenes.
Overall, though, this was a really good read. Very very very sad, but good nonetheless.
Another page-turning, can't-put-it-down story from Grisham. You'll probably enjoy it more if you like basketball, but this isn't just a basketball story.
3.5 stars. Listened to this one. Dion Graham does a nice job. This kept my interest and I was rooting for the main characters. I should know by now not to expect perfectly happy-tied-up-in-a-bow endings from Grisham, but was still disappointed.